Delta Fringe Series Boxset: Books 1-3

by Heather Lee Dyer

  Markov has been visiting me every day, giving me news on how things are going to repair Delta. He's even stayed to watch several of the autopsies. Originally placed on a small medical cruiser, Markov has now been promoted to an attending position on one of the large hospital ships. His help with caring for the injured guards in the middle of the breach got the notice of the galactic medical association. I told him he owes me his first-born.

  I've also seen Annie at the hospital. Her dad still needs to remain there for a few more days, but he should fully recover and return to work soon. She's also promised to save me a place in the lunchroom. I've been the muerta for so long that I'm having a hard time imagining things being any different at school.

  Even worse than thinking about school is the fact that I haven't seen or talked to Derek. He ended up staying at the hospital in a medically induced coma for a few days fighting the infection. They said if I hadn't pumped him full of meds like I did, he might not have made it.

  Even after he was released, I didn't hear from him, though. I was told that all of Delta's security guards were withdrawn from the station to one of the fleet ships for questioning. Fleet troops came to work temporarily on Delta in the meantime. It's been so strange seeing new faces and uniforms.

  "First day back since the breach?" Dad's voice pulls me from my thoughts as I pull my forehead off the doorjamb to his office.

  "Can't you call me in sick for another day? There's still a lot of work around here to catch up on." I let my pack slide down my shoulder and onto the floor.

  He adjusts the sling that holds his arm against his chest and grimaces. "No. You need to go so you don't fall behind in your classes. You only have a few months left of school before you graduate."

  I roll my eyes. "I’ve already graduated once. And you're still injured, you need me here." I cringe as my voice comes out whinier than I intended.

  He chuckles and points at the front door. "Go on, Bren. Dr. Martinsen is still here to help."

  I sigh dramatically and pick up my pack. I head out the front door and start to take the usual left but freeze. I'm not sure I'm ready to see the site of the attack yet, even though Markov says they are making great progress. And I'm definitely nervous to encounter our security guys, who should be back on duty today. At least the guards that weren't found to be involved in the Scott issue. Those ones are being taken to the nearest prison asteroid to be tried for the deaths of the Tempest and Delta crews.

  Every maroon shirt I see makes my stomach queasy because I think each one might be Scott, and each tan security shirt I think is Derek.

  I had hoped Derek would’ve commed me by now or came to visit as soon as he got back to Delta. Now I'm not sure what to think.

  I head back the other direction and take the long way past the public docks. There are still a lot of people going back and forth between the hospital ships and Delta. I wave at a few nurses and doctors I've met as they hurry toward the docks. They wave back with smiles.

  I'm still trying to get used to not being invisible to the people of Delta anymore. I smile as I make my way through the crowd.

  The closer I get to school, the more my heart races and my palms sweat. I've never cared so much about what someone thinks of me as I do with Derek. I'm so afraid that things will go back to the way they were before the attack. I’m not sure I could handle that.

  I end up losing the battle with myself as the front doors to the school come into sight. I stop and lean against the wall to concentrate on not panicking. I slide down to sit hard on the ground and wrap my arms around my knees and lean my head against them.

  My chest tightens as I hear male laughter. I need to move, to get away from here, but I can't. It's like the first day on Delta all over again. I think I'm going to be sick.

  Something bumps into my feet, and I peek open one eye to see a pair of black shoes touching mine.

  "Hey there." Derek's voice sends a shockwave down my spine.

  I slowly look up, feeling my emotions stretched thin.

  Derek's standing with his arm neatly bandaged, smiling down at me. I almost cry at how happy I am to see him.

  The laughter behind cuts off, and soon a few of Derek's friends come to stand alongside him.

  Quasar’s light. Here we go. My throat tightens as I look up at the familiar faces that I'd come to dread every day. Minus the two that were taken off station with Scott.

  "Great job stopping Scott, Bren. We never liked him anyway," says Anders on Derek's right. "And for saving Derek here, of course." He punches Derek's good arm and walks off toward the front door of the school with the others trailing behind.

  I stare after them with my mouth gaping open.

  "Bren?" Derek asks tentatively.

  I tear my gaze from the school door and back up to Derek.

  He smiles and offers his good hand. He pulls me to my feet and we end up with our faces just inches apart. I'm afraid to say anything, to ruin the moment, or wake myself up. I'm still not sure what's going on between us.

  I search Derek's eyes for some hint of what he's thinking. His expression is guarded, so I have no idea what to do or say. So I say the first thing I can think of. "I haven't heard from you since I took you to the hospital." I bite my lip at how hurt my voice sounds.

  His face lights up in a huge smile. He reaches his hand up and caresses my cheek. "I was on so many drugs I thought for sure I imagined what went on between us. I wasn't sure you really liked me or if I was hallucinating."

  Before I can respond, he leans forward and kisses me, pressing me firmly against the wall. My whole body responds, and I wrap my arms carefully around him and return the passionate kiss. I trace my hand over the bandage on his back and think about how crazy the last few weeks have been. But unlike before, now I'm looking forward to seeing what each day will bring.

  <<<>>>

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  FRINGE ATTACK. Copyright (c) 2018 by Heather Lee Dyer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Heather Lee Dyer.

  www.heatherleedyer.com

  https://www.instagram.com/heatherleedyer/

  Library of Congress Control Number 2018957937 First Edition September 2018

  ISBN 978-1-7322800-5-2 Paperback

  ISBN 978-1-7322800-6-9 E-book

  Thanks to the Ada County Coroner’s office whose work is always done with dignity, intelligence, and at times a dark sense of humor!

  1

  La Muerta

  Bright red blood runs down the pale arm and drips on black uniform pants. “Titan’s moons!” I say under my breath as I dab at the open gash.

  “Not used to the sight of blood, Miss Teves?” The captain’s deep voice has no humor in it.

  The gauze turns pink, and I draw in a deep breath and force my dark eyes up to face my patient, the captain of the Moon Raker. “I have no qualms about blood, sir.”

  “Maybe you should get someone with more experience to do this.” He narrows his pale gray eyes at me.

  Anger bubbles in the pit of my stomach. This is why I prefer my patients dead.

  I clamp my mouth shut and turn back to examine the perfect row of stitches that pull most of the gash together. I just had a few more to do when the captain decided to reach for his tablet on the counter next to the hospital bed. He ended up pulling several stitches free and starting his wound bleeding again. And somehow, this is my fault. My regular patients don’t move. Or bleed.

  “Almost done. Just a few more,” I say, trying to imitate the sweet bedside manner of the nurses I work with. I flick my eyes up to him. I don’t think he buys it. “I’m sure you can handle a few more minutes of this, right?”

  He holds my gaze for a few seconds before turning his attention back to his tablet.

  I
let out a quiet breath and quickly finish the stitches. The sooner this captain and his crew get treated and back onto their ship, the sooner I can get some sleep. I turn my wrist slightly as I pull another stitch tight. I can barely read the digital time projected through my dark skin from the implant, but I see enough of the faint glowing numbers to know I’ve been here for over twenty-four hours. My eyes burn, and my hands are starting to cramp up.

  The impatient captain moves again, and I grind my jaw to keep from saying something I might regret. Thankfully, that was the last stitch, and I cut the thread. I look down at the pale arm and smile inwardly at the even stitches.

  “Can I go now?” His voice grates on my tired nerves.

  “Just about.” I quickly wrap his wound and stand up. I step to the wall and scan my Delta implant across the e-log. “Now you’re all ready to go back to your ship.”

  He stands and shrugs his coat on over one arm, then he takes a step toward the door but stops and turns on his heels. “You would think as a captain I would at least rate a real doctor.” He juts his chin up.

  I frown. I should be thankful we’re so busy with injured patients instead of dead ones. But times like this I long to work in the cold rooms where my patients don’t talk back.

  “Actually, Miss Teves has more experience with stitching up bodies than anyone here in the hospital.”

  The captain startles and steps back into the tray next to the bed, knocking blood soaked bandages and metal instruments scattering loudly across the floor.

  Derek’s unapologetic grin peeks around the doorway.

  My heart skips a beat when I see him. I grin and bend down to pick up the mess on the floor as the captain, white-faced now sits down hard on the hospital bed.

  “I’m sorry, Captain. Mr. Paz didn’t mean to startle you.”

  The captain’s eyes flick between Derek and me. He stands up and smooths his uniform shirt with his good hand. “What are you doing skulking around here…” he squints at Derek’s uniform and the markings on his collar, “Security Apprentice Paz?”

  “I’m here to escort you back to your ship, sir.” Derek evens out his facial expression and stands up straight.

  The captain looks at Derek with narrowed eyes. “Good. But what did you mean when you said this girl has more experience than your hospital staff? Don’t they train the doctors properly here on Delta station?” He ends his sentence with a high pitch that almost hurts my ears. Since he works for one of the biggest Sol corporations, he’s probably used to being treated like royalty back there. He’s going to hate being in the Fringe where there isn’t even a station like this to stop at.

  Derek’s eyes narrow, and I give a quick shake of my head. I’m standing behind the captain now, holding the med tray. So I know Derek can see I want him to stay quiet.

  But of course he doesn’t.

  “Miss Teves here is the coroner’s daughter. She has more medical education and experience than most of the doctors here or anywhere in our quadrant.”

  “Coroner!” The captain turns to me in horror. “You work on dead people?”

  I roll my eyes. Screw bedside manner. I’m over being polite. After stitching up twenty of his crew members because they couldn’t handle maneuvering through an asteroid belt, I’ve had enough for the day. “Yes I do, captain. And you know what? I prefer working on dead people because they aren’t rude like you.”

  Tears prick hot behind my eyes, and I push past the captain carrying the tray out the door.

  “Bren,” Derek says as I pass.

  I just shake my head and keep walking. The corridor is full of patients lying on gurneys or leaning against the wall, while nurses attend to their wounds and complaints. Sweat and blood odors mingle with the usual antiseptic smell. I weave as quickly as I can through them and duck into the main supply room.

  The process of disposing of the blood-soaked bandages and instruments calms my temper. I take deep breaths as I place the tray in the large sanitizer.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been standing at the sink washing my hands under the warm water when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I quickly look back and find Derek, his eyes full of concern. I dry my hands and turn, allowing him to envelope me in an embrace.

  “I’m sorry Bren, I shouldn’t have pushed the captain like that.”

  I rest my head on his shoulder and hug him back. “No, I shouldn’t have overreacted. I’m just tired.”

  With one hand I can still feel the bandage on his back. It was infected so badly that he’s still healing from his injury from months ago. The metal that cut him when the station was rammed by the rogue ship was jagged and went deep.

  “How’s it feeling?” I reach under the bottom of his shirt to touch his bandage lightly. Today is Derek’s first full day back since being released from light duty. He’s only been able go to school and attend security meetings the last few weeks.

  Derek pulls back from me, blushing, as someone comes into the room, a nurse with her hands full of used supplies. We quickly step out of her way and back into the busy corridor. My face is warm as well, and I keep my head down as we walk.

  “It’s fine. All they have me doing today is escorting crew from the Moon Raker back and forth from their ship.” His voice has a dark bite to it, much like the Derek who used to call me la muerta and make fun of me in class. It makes me shiver.

  I stop him with a gentle hand. “You’ll be back up to full speed soon. Just give yourself time.”

  He runs a hand through his short hair. “I know Bren. Sorry to snap. I just feel so useless.”

  “You’re lucky you survived those wounds, Derek.” I run my hand up his arm where another bandage used to be, and now only a thick scar remains. “Besides this gives us more time together since they aren’t sending you off station to deal with all the trouble they’re having with the mining colonies.”

  He grins and grabs my hand up and pulls me down the corridor. “You’re right. And that would be true if you didn’t work such long hours.”

  I grimace as I allow him to lead me. Still holding my hand he weaves us around patients and nurses. I have been working too much. So much that we’ve spent hardly any time together in the last week. “Where are we going, Derek?”

  “Somewhere we haven’t been in a while.” He looks over his shoulder and flashes that amazing smile at me. I can’t help but to grin back. I know I should probably stay and tend to more patients, but he’s right. I’ve been working too many hours. And I can never resist his crooked smile. A shiver goes up my spine as I squeeze his strong hand.

  We leave by the side of the hospital, since the front is still closed off due to reconstruction. We hop on the nearest walkway, and Derek puts an arm comfortably around me. As I lean into him and watch the people go by, I think about where we were a year ago. Complete enemies, hating each other. I was still adjusting to my mom’s death, when Derek and his friends took a dislike to me. Not me personally, but the fact that I worked with my dad in the coroner’s office. Behind his back they used to call my dad Mr. Death, and not so much behind my back they called me la muerta. The dead girl.

  I look up into Derek’s brown eyes. It took a catastrophe and both of us nearly dying for us to realize we actually like each other. And besides Derek, I made several other friends during the attack on the station.

  Derek pulls me off the walkway at the end of the gray sector. We’re at one of the three corners that make up the triangle layout of Delta station. It takes just a few strides and we’re standing before my favorite place in the whole station.

  I grin at Derek. “Have you been here lately?”

  He shakes his head and opens the door for me. “Of course not. I was waiting for you.” He stops just inside and waits for me to come in before sealing the door behind us.

  I take in a large breath of scented moist air. I love the greenhouse, and Derek knows it’s my favorite place to be, other than flying in space. I look over at Derek, and my grin fades. Derek is looking into t
he forest of trees ahead of us, but he’s stiff and pale.

  The fresh flowers and greenery around us contrast sharply with the dark look on his face. I grab his hand and pull him close, forcing his eyes off the trees and onto me. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Too soon?”

  He stares into my eyes as I search his face to see what’s going on inside his head.

  “Derek?”

  He nods once like he’s made a decision. “I’m all right. This is why I wanted to wait until I was with you.”

  “Because Scott chased us in here trying to kill us or because you almost died in those trees?” I point toward the middle of the large greenhouse.

  In the center of the greenhouse is a pond surrounded by a grove of swamp cypress trees. We hid from Scott in there. I had to leave Derek alone, bleeding and feverish while I went for help. Derek couldn’t walk anymore, and his former boss, Sergeant Scott would’ve killed us both for the information I had.

  Derek’s arm slides around my waist and pulls me toward the trail. “A little of both I guess. But we’ll make happy memories to get rid of those bad ones.” He grins down at me as we walk along.

  I laugh lightly. Everyone who was on Delta station that day is having a hard time feeling safe again. The construction on the damaged parts is a constant reminder of the trauma we went through, all the lives we lost, and how powerless we all felt.

  “Great idea. Let’s start with seeing how Annie’s mother is doing.” I veer off the path and head toward a wooden shack near the edge of the woods. I inhale deeply, enjoying the scent of the flowers blooming all around us. Annie is my new school friend who works in communications. Her mom is the greenhouse manager, and her dad works in security. Mr. Clarke was injured severely during the attack and isn’t back to work yet.

  On her knees with gloved hands full of dirt and flower bulbs, Annie’s mom catches sight of us coming toward her. Her pale face lights up, and she places everything on the ground so she can stand and greet us.